The Key to Faster Sales: Being a Pro at Online Networking

Most people are terrible at networking online… ?? ??

Yeah, I said it. And that doesn’t mean they are not great at networking. A lot of them are amazing at networking in-person.

But when it comes to networking online, they fall short.

Maybe it’s because it doesn’t give them the same ‘feels’ as in person does.

Maybe it’s because it feels weird to type what they are thinking…(of they can’t type as fast as they can think, but they can talk as fast as they think).

Or maybe they rely on body language cues to tell them whether or not their question asking is being received well or is just making the person on the other end feel uncomfortable.

And most likely it’s because of this one simple thing… you can’t read tone based on what someone has typed to you. (Emojis were supposed to help us do that, but now they are so overused and out of context, or there’s an emoji for anything and everything that it’s a little bit of a jumble mess).

But…if you’re not networking online you’re really missing out on some massive opportunities.

So here’s my top 4 steps that I’ve acquired over the years that has really helped me in networking…and I’m legit one of the best super-connectors in my field (I’m usually humble, but because I’ve made others literally millions of dollars with my introductions, my head is a little big on this one).

?Step 1: It’s better to try than to not try at all when it comes to talking with people online. Forget about what others say about damaging your brand if you say the wrong thing in the DMs, because you can always clarify and ask for forgiveness if what you type ends up sounding different to the person on the receiving end. In all fairness, we’re all newbies at this considering that in-person networking has been around for centuries (I mean how else were people supposed to do trades back in the farming days – you need grain for the winter, you trade one of your cows and that always had to come from direct face-to-face communication). ?So give yourself a break, and give others a break too.

?Step 2: Active listening if your friend but it only works as good as the questions that you ask. I’m a big believer in active listening. Listening more than you speak give you more information to keep a conversation going. But, some people will talk and talk and talk and talk and talk, and you can’t necessarily take it any direction if you started with such a wide open question that left them to their own devices on how to answer it. So active listening yes, but first good question asking. Which leads me to step #3…

?Step 3: This probably should have been step 2, but this step everyone tries to skip over…so I made my point in step 2 so now you have to read this very, very, very important step. DO YOUR RESEARCH before you jump on a networking call or start networking in the DMs. Go beyond just checking out their LinkedIn profile too. Look at their other social media platforms so you can get a feel for not just what they do for a living, but who they are as a person. Because you’re going to be able to get them to open up and have an honest conversation with you better if you know who they are as a person, versus what they do for a living. Pro tip – not everyone is living their passion and chasing their dreams. Most people really are working at jobs that don’t reflect who they truly are, so taking note of who they are pulls them out of their workday so they can relax and just be.

?Step 4: Be just as good at providing value to them as you are at asking for value from them. This is something that is really rare in networking scenarios, so if you get good at this, not only are you going to soar as a person to know and to want to work with, you’re going to be highly sought after for potential partnerships and further networking. Active listening will help. When you know what people are looking for and you’ve clarified with them, then you can start to think about what resources you have that can help. And we ALL have something to offer someone else. It can be as simple as a like on a post or a share of an article for someone else. But you also have to be very good at what you ask for in a networking scenario. If you’re not, then what will happen is you won’t move forward and receive what you need to in order to run your own business or further your own career. Pro tip – don’t be a jerk as a networker. If someone gives you a lead or makes an introduction that could lead to something, it takes very little time to like a post or share it with your community. It’ll come back and bite you in the butt in a big way, so just don’t do it. (you know who you are)…

So, that’s what I got for online networking and communication. Yes, it’s still one of the fastest ways to grow your business, create lasting partnerships, and build up your career portfolio. Now that I’ve give you this power and information, use it wisely and authentically.

PS. This is one of my favorite mugs, and yet it’s the most difficult to get the right amount of coffee, cream, and sugar in and still have it taste good. And funny enough, it stinks as a mug to dip a donut in. ?? But, what it is really good at is breaking the ice with any zoom networking call I have.

Danielle Fitzpatrick Clark is lovingly referred to as America's Favorite Digital Disruptor. She doesn't just live, breathe, and sleep digital marketing, she embodies the constant shifts and pivots needed to create long-lasting businesses and brands in the online space. She's a 2x 2023 LinkedIn Top Voice (Digital Marketing & Influencer Marketing), Award Winning Podcast Host, International Speaker & Author, and a Top 20 Women Disruptors To Look Out For In 2023 nominee.

Her company Influence Builder is all about bringing the human element to the online tech and digital space. Specifically focused on helping the lesser-known experts, influencers and thought leaders, Influence Builder shows them how to break out of the noise, create powerful platforms, and thriving businesses so they can spread their mission and message to the world. This is the bridge where disruptors disrupt and build with authentic influence. Contact Danielle and her team about how they can grow your platforms, your audience, and your bottom line at [email protected].